Quick coupler assembly
An implement quick coupling mechanism for a work vehicle includes a frame having a cross member and left and right side members projecting from the cross member. The cross member and side members have mounting parts which permit different implement coupling parts to be mounted thereon. A first set of hook members having a first type of dimensional characteristics may be mounted on the frame to form a first category of coupling mechanism. A second set of coupling members having a second type of dimensional characteristics may be mounted on the frame to form a second category of coupling mechanism.
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The present invention relates to a quick coupler for attaching an implement to a vehicle such as an agricultural tractor.
Different sized tractors are normally provided with different sized implement hitches. For example, standards require that larger tractors be provided with a larger category 4N hitch, whereas smaller tractors are normally provided with a smaller category 3 hitch. It is also known to mount a quick coupler to a tractor hitch and then couple an implement to the quick coupler. A larger category 4 quick coupler is normally mounted on a larger category 4 hitch. Yet, there are many hitch-coupled implements which are designed to be coupled with a category 3 hitch. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a quick coupler which can be mounted on a category 4 hitch and which can be modified or adapted to be coupled to either a category 3 or category 4N implement.
SUMMARYAccordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an adjustable quick coupler mechanism.
A further object is to provide a quick coupler which can be converted to different standard dimensions.
These and other objects are achieved by the present invention, wherein a quick coupler mechanism includes a frame having a cross member and left and right side members projecting from the cross member. A first set of hook members having a first type of dimensional characteristics may be mounted on the frame to form a first category of coupling mechanism. A second set of coupling members having a second type of dimensional characteristics may be mounted on the frame to form a second category of coupling mechanism.
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Right side member 14 includes a rear plate 40 and a pair of spaced apart side plates 42 and 44. Rectangular slot 46 extends upwardly from the lower end of plates 40. Left side member 16 includes a rear plate 50 and a pair of spaced apart side plates 52 and 54. Rectangular slot 56 extends upwardly from the lower end of plates 50. Each side member preferably includes a conventional hook latching mechanism, including handle portion 58 and latch lever portions 60 which are shown in FIG. 1. Since left side member 16 is a mirror image of right side member 14, the following description will be directed only to right side member 14.
A forward pair of aligned bores 62 and 64 for use in coupling the frame 10 to a tractor hitch draft link (not shown) extend through a lower end of plates 42 and 44. A pair of aligned upper rear hook coupling bores 66 and 68 extend through the lower end of plates 42 and 44. A pair of aligned lower rear hook coupling bores 70 and 72 extend through the lower end of plates 42 and 44, spaced apart from and below bores 66 and 68.
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With this invention, the upper and lower hooks may be exchanged to allow for different mast height (vertical distance between lower hooks and upper center hook), pin sizes, and hook widths such as are required by the standards for category III and IVNL implements and quick couplers. The user can easily change the quick coupler implement side from a category III to a category IVN depending on what implement they are working with. Because the hooks are separate parts, the material properties of each can be chosen to allow for better strength and wear without significant cost increase.
While the present invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is understood that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A coupling mechanism comprising:
- a frame having a cross member and left and right side members projecting from the cross member;
- the cross member having a pair of spaced apart upper mounting tabs projecting from an upper surface of the cross member, each upper mounting tab having a mounting bore extending therethrough;
- the cross member having a pair of spaced apart lower mounting tabs projecting from a lower surface of the cross member, each lower mounting tab having a lower mounting bore extending therethrough;
- the right side member having a pair of spaced apart right mounting tabs projecting from a lower end of the right side member, each right mounting tab having a mounting bore extending therethrough;
- the left side member having a pair of spaced apart left mounting tabs projecting from a lower end of the left side member, each left mounting tab having a mounting bore extending therethrough;
- a first upper hook having first dimensional characteristics;
- a second upper hook having second dimensional characteristics which are different from the first dimensional characteristics, either of said first or second upper hooks being mountable to the cross member;
- a first right lower hook having first dimensional characteristics;
- a second right lower hook having second dimensional characteristics which are different from the first dimensional characteristics, either of said first or second right lower hooks being mountable to the right side member;
- a first left lower hook having first dimensional characteristics;
- a second left lower hook having second dimensional characteristics which are different from the first dimensional characteristics, either of said first or second left lower hooks being mountable to the right side member.
2. The coupling mechanism of claim 1, wherein:
- a category 4 coupler is formed when the first hooks are mounted to the cross member and the side members.
3. The coupling mechanism of claim 1, wherein:
- a category 3 coupler is formed when the second hooks are mounted to the cross member and the side members.
4. The coupling mechanism of claim 1, wherein:
- each upper mounting tab having a further mounting bore extending therethrough for use in coupling to a center hitch link.
5. The coupling mechanism of claim 1, wherein:
- each right and left mounting tab includes a further mounting bore extending therethrough for use in coupling to a hitch draft link.
6. The coupling mechanism of claim 1, further comprising:
- one of the first and second upper hooks has a forked upper end forming a pair of ears separated by a space, said space being capable of receiving an end of upper hitch connecting link.
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- Farm Show, May-Jun. 1993 vol. 17, issue 3, p. 34.*
- ASAE, “Attachment of Implements to Agricultural Wheel Tractors Equipped with Quick-Attaching Coupler—ASAE Standards 1999”, pp. 104-105, 1995.
- John Deere, “Tractors—FMO”, p. 191, 1981.
Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 11, 2003
Date of Patent: Apr 5, 2005
Patent Publication Number: 20040188111
Assignee: Deere & Company (Moline, IL)
Inventor: Robert Lee Wood, Jr. (Waterloo, IA)
Primary Examiner: Robert E. Pezzuto
Assistant Examiner: Nathan S Mammen
Application Number: 10/386,304